Some students who come to SIUC say they find that college life is expensive and time consuming. As a result they say casual sex becomes more common, while formal dating declines.

Chris Houk, a senior in outdoor recreation from Barrington, said there are too many alternative things to do at college, such as class and hanging out with friends, to have a serious relationship.

Traditional dating is definitely on the decline, Houk said. The term dating is not even used anymore. People say they are seeing each other or going out.

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According to a questionnaire by a Daily Egyptian Reporter reported male students had more one night stands last year, ranging from 0 to 20, than girl students who had a range of 0 to 7. The questionnaire was given to fifty SIUC students.

Jennifer Burrus, a freshman in political science from Carbondale, said one night stands are more common than planning dates at SIUC because partying is more important to students.

This is a party school, Burrus said. People start drinking and partying. They see someone attractive, and one thing leads to another. The next day they realize they were both drunk, and that’s the end of it.

Most of the students polled said they dated every once in a while, compared to regular or frequent dating.

Van Robinson, a senior in accounting from Vergennes, said formal dating is too expensive for most college students.

Saturday, I took a girl out that I’ve been seeing and it cost $40, Robinson said. I think there are a lot of one night stands (in the college scene), but it’s not any worse at SIU than at other places.

More male students than female students said sex with strangers is acceptable.

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Michael May, a senior in radio-television from Mundelein, said students would rather have one night stands and avoid the serious commitments.

People in college don’t want a commitment, they want the instant gratification, May said. They are just out looking for a good time.

Layla Olin, a junior from Springfield, said more girls are having one night stands than they used to.

The reason women are more into one night stands is because all their self esteem is wrapped up between their legs, Olin said.

Burrus said more girls do not have one night stands compared to guys because they are more emotional and see sex as more than just a physical act.

There are so many easy girls out there though, Burrus said. Guys don’t want a commitment if they can get the other stuff for free candy is dandy but liquor is quicker!

Angie Bartes, a senior in education from Carbondale, said the older students get, the more they realize it is not gratifying to have one night stands.

As you get older, you start caring more about yourself and realize how you are going to feel afterwards, Bartes said. Your body and health become more important.

Mike May, a member of Phi Sigma Kappa, said guys in a fraternity do not have more one night stands than those not in a fraternity.

May, a senior in psychology from Quincy, said guys are not the only ones that participate in one night stands.

Women are just as good at using people as men are, May said.

Students said they enjoyed sharing time with those they liked hiking, camping, playing sports, movie-watching, eating out, playing cards and games, or experimenting with recreational drugs. Activities that do not require money or planning were the most popular for students.

Chris Lesch, a senior in anthropology from Wheaton, said students do not plan activities or dates in advance.

It’s usually all spur of the moment. Lesch said. Things just happen. It’s more fun that way.

Rich Weaver, a resident advisor at Schneider Hall, said the issues of dating and sex were a large part of the resident advisors’ training.

Even the first week of school, a couple of girls came to me wanting a guy’s opinion about one night stands, because it happened to them, Weaver said. I told them that it happens a lot and they should count it as a learning experience. They shouldn’t let it happen again.

I think guys have more of a view of how college is going to be, Weaver said. That’s (one night stands) what they expect.

Weaver said if students have questions or concerns about dating and sex, the Counseling Center and the Wellness Center offer help and counseling.